按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
great king； great god！〃
At this information I started； for it was startling to learn
that here was the original Oro； who was still worshipped by the
Orofenans； although of his actual existence they had known
nothing for uncounted time。 Also I was glad to learn that he was
her father and not her old husband； for to me that would have
been horrible； a desecration too deep for words。
〃How long did you sleep； Yva？〃 I asked； pointing towards the
sepulchre in the cave。
After a little thought she understood and shook her head
hopelessly； then by an afterthought； she said；
〃Stars tell Oro to…night。〃
So Oro was an astronomer as well as a king and a god。 I had
guessed as much from those plates in the coffin which seemed to
have stars engraved on them。
At this point our conversation came to an end； for the Ancient
himself approached； leaning on the arm of Bickley who was engaged
in an animated argument with Bastin。
〃For Heaven's sake！〃 said Bickley； 〃keep your theology to
yourself at present。 If you upset the old fellow and put him in a
temper he may die。〃
〃If a man tells me that he is a god it is my duty to tell him
that he is a liar；〃 replied Bastin obstinately。
〃Which you did； Bastin； only fortunately he did not understand
you。 But for your own sake I advise you not to take liberties。 He
is not one； I think； with whom it is wise to trifle。 I think he
seems thirsty。 Go and get some water from the rain pool； not from
the lake。〃
Bastin departed and presently returned with an aluminum jug
full of pure water and a glass。 Bickley poured some of it into a
glass and handed it to Yva who bent her head in thanks。 Then she
did a curious thing。 Having first lifted the glass with both
hands to the sky and held it so for a few seconds； she turned and
with an obeisance poured a little of it on the ground before her
father's feet。
A libation； thought I to myself； and evidently Bastin agreed
with me； for I heard him mutter；
〃I believe she is making a heathen offering。〃
Doubtless we were right； for Oro accepted the homage by a
little motion of the head。 After this； at a sign from him she
drank the water。 Then the glass was refilled and handed to Oro
who also held it towards the sky。 He； however； made no libation
but drank at once； two tumblers of it in rapid succession。
By now the direct sunlight was passing from the mouth of the
cave； and though it was hot enough； both of them shivered a
little。 They spoke together in some language of which we could
not understand a word； as though they were debating what their
course of action should be。 The dispute was long and earnest。 Had
we known what was passing； which I learned afterwards； it would
have made us sufficiently anxious； for the point at issue was
nothing less than whether we should or should not be forthwith
destroyedan end； it appears； that Oro was quite capable of
bringing about if he so pleased。 Yva； however； had very clear
views of her own on the matter and； as I gather； even dared to
threaten that she would protect us by the use of certain powers
at her command； though what these were I do not know。
While the event hung doubtful Tommy； who was growing bored with
these long proceedings； picked up a bough still covered with
flowers which； after their pretty fashion； the Orofenans had
placed on the top of one of the baskets of food。 This small bough
he brought and laid at the feet of Oro； no doubt in the hope that
he would throw it for him to fetch； a game in which the dog
delighted。 For some reason Oro saw an omen in this simple canine
performance； or he may have thought that the dog was making an
offering to him； for he put his thin hand to his brow and thought
a while； then motioned to Bastin to pick up the bough and give it
to him。
Next he spoke to his daughter as though assenting to something；
for I saw her sigh in relief。 No wonder； for he was conveying his
decision to spare our lives and admit us to their fellowship。
After this again they talked； but in quite a different tone and
manner。 Then the Glittering Lady said to me in her slow and
archaic Orofenan：
〃We go to rest。 You must not follow。 We come back perhaps
tonight； perhaps next night。 We are quite safe。 You are quite
safe under the beard of Oro。 Spirit of Oro watch you。 You
understand？〃
I said I understood； whereon she answered：
〃Good…bye； O Humfe…ry。〃
〃Good…bye； O Yva；〃 I replied； bowing。
Thereon they turned and refusing all assistance from us；
vanished into the darkness of the cave leaning upon each other
and walking slowly。
Chapter XII
Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Years！
〃You seem to have made the best of your time； old fellow；〃 said
Bickley in rather a sour voice。
〃I never knew people begin to call each other by their
Christian names so soon；〃 added Bastin； looking at me with a
suspicious eye。
〃I know no other；〃 I said。
〃Perhaps not； but at any rate you have another； though you
don't seem to have told it to her。 Anyway； I am glad they are
gone； for I was getting tired of being ordered by everybody to
carry about wood and water for them。 Also I am terribly hungry as
I can't eat before it is light。 They have taken most of the best
fruit to which I was looking forward； but thank goodness they do
not seem to care for pork。〃
〃So am I；〃 said Bickley； who really looked exhausted。 〃Get the
food； there's a good fellow。 We'll talk afterwards。〃
When we had eaten； somewhat silently； I asked Bickley what he
made of the business； also whither he thought the sleepers had
gone。
〃I think I can answer the last question；〃 interrupted Bastin。
〃I expect it is to a place well known to students of the Bible
which even Bickley mentions sometimes when he is angry。 At any
rate； they seem to be very fond of heat； for they wouldn't part
from it even in their coffins； and you will admit that they are
not quite natural； although that Glittering Lady is so attractive
as regards her exterior。〃
Bickley waved these remarks aside and addressed himself to me。
〃I don't know what to think of it；〃 he said； 〃but as the
experience is not natural and everything in the Universe； so far
as we know it； has a natural explanation； I am inclined to the
belief that we are suffering from hallucinations； which in their
way are also quite natural。 It does not seem possible that two
people can really have been asleep for an unknown length of time
enclosed in vessels of glass or crystal； kept warm by radium or
some such substance； and then emerge from them comparatively
strong and well。 It is contrary to natural law。〃
〃How about microbes？〃 I asked。 〃They are said to last
practically for ever； and they are living things。 So in their
case your natural law breaks down。〃
〃That is true；〃 he answered。 〃Some microbes in a sealed tube
and under certain conditions do appear to